Matthew Lewis
patreon
A new introduction.
🕑 Added 2025-10-19 07:54:13 +0000 UTCWell, it's been a while.
Welcome back to those familiar with my work—and to those encountering it for the first time, allow me to introduce myself.
My name is Matt, I was one half of the creative partnership behind DLAW (DeJong-Lewis Advanced Weapons), a Patreon-based initiative focused on producing BattleTech-adjacent and inspired miniatures. These digital designs are intended as proxy-compatible, 3D-printable models for tabletop enthusiasts and collectors.
Historically, our release cadence followed a consistent rhythm: two new models each month. However, that structure is about to evolve. I’ll be sharing the reasons behind this shift shortly.
First and foremost, I want to extend my sincere apologies to anyone who felt disappointed or misled during the previous iteration of my Patreon. While I understand that some may feel frustrated, I must be candid: those who played silly little games were repeatedly warned, and the consequences were both necessary and deliberate.
To clarify, the prior Patreon model was repeatedly abused by individuals who would subscribe, download my entire catalogue, and cancel before being charged—only to distribute my work freely across the internet. This behavior undermines the integrity of the creative process and the sustainability of independent artistry. After issuing multiple warnings, I made the difficult decision to shut down the project.
If you disagree with how I handled this situation, I respect your right to your opinion. However, I am not here to justify my actions to individual moral frameworks. This is a business, and I will continue to operate it in a way that protects my work and supports its longevity.
That said, piracy was only one of several factors that led to the closure of the previous Patreon. At the time, I had moved back home to care for my mother, who had been diagnosed with stage four heart, lung, and brain cancer. Balancing full-time caregiving, employment, and model production proved unsustainable, and I had to make difficult choices to prioritize what mattered most.
Compounding this was the unexpected disappearance of my creative partner, who had been co-managing the Patreon and contributing to model production. With no way to reach them, I was left to shoulder the entire operation alone during an already overwhelming period.
It has now been six months since my mother passed. I’m slowly regaining stability and working through the responsibilities and debts left in the wake of her passing. With more time available and a renewed need for financial support, I’ve decided to return to my creative roots and relaunch the Patreon—this time with a revised structure and clearer boundaries.
Here’s what’s changing:
Quarterly Releases: Instead of monthly drops, I’ll be releasing four fully printable models every three months. This allows for more flexibility in production timeframes and ensures consistent quality. Effectively, that’s one model per month, plus a bonus.
Quarterly Model Rotation: At the start of each new quarter, the previous set of models will be retired from Patreon and transitioned exclusively to my Cults3D digital storefront. Subscribers in Tier 2 and above will receive special discount codes to purchase these archived releases at a significantly reduced rate. Tier 1 subscribers will continue to benefit from their standard discount.
Restructured Pricing and Tiers: I’ve updated the subscription tiers to better reflect the value and effort behind each release. Licensed sellers will once again be permitted to sell prints of my miniatures, but I will be enforcing licensing terms more rigorously to prevent unauthorized reselling.
Merchant Tier Oversight: Subscribers to the Merchant Tier will be required to sign a formal agreement, granting myself the ability for direct cataloguing of authorized sellers. This will also include the necessity to submit a physical print sample prior to listing, allowing for quality assurance review. The agreement also enables tracking of customer feedback and complaints to support collaborative resolution of production issues. While oversight is in place, individual sellers retain full autonomy over pricing and business operations. This framework is designed to uphold quality standards and ensure transparency across approved merchant channels. This contract and terms therein will be available in the future to interested parties to review, and MUST BE SIGNED AND NOTARIZED before you are allowed to sell printed works. This tier and contract will EXCLUSIVELY be for physical product, not digital files.
This new model is a test bed—an experiment in sustainability, creativity, and community. I appreciate those of you who continue to support my work and understand the challenges behind the scenes. Your patience and encouragement mean the world.
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to sharing what’s next.
Looking Ahead, the first full release of new models is scheduled for early 2026. Leading up to the launch, I will be sharing previews, digital renders, and progress shots of printed prototypes to keep the community informed and engaged. Thank you all once again for your continued support. I’m hopeful that this new chapter will prove more rewarding, equitable, and creatively fulfilling for everyone involved.
(Image imbedded in post created by Matt Glatz of one of my upcoming releases.
Comments
Jon Letham
Welcome back!
Danny Keith
Condolences on your loss, hope the new project works out well for you.
